What are 5 things you have learned that has completely changed your life?

I am still a kid, And I love asking questions, cause I believe that the best way to learn is through asking questions. And I love the TED community, its full of amazing individuals. So, What are 5 things you have learned that has completely changed your life?

Jun 9 2012:
Every Day I learn More
1- We spend 1/3 of life working, Choose Wisely & Do something that counts.
2- To Master ANYTHING, Number of tries is the key. Always learn new skills, discover new places & Read much.
3- Take Risks, if you win, you'll lead, if you loose, you'll guide.
4- Your Family is the best gift in life, Love them and be grateful.
5- If you don't build your dream, Someone will hire you to build their dream.Success is all about hard-work, passion and will.

Jun 27 2012:
1) Knowledge is fine, but useless without creativity. You need creativity to solve a problem and not only for arts. Creativity is something you have, but after years in school you loose it.
2) Our supply chain sucks. The way out products are made is very complex. It is difficult to see where the process starts, but usually it involves some kind of slavery (cotton, metals, diamonds, rare earth elements for smartphones.., production of devices (Playstation, iPod...in Foxconn ), which leads to number 3)
3) When you buy something you also approve it. By getting an iPod, shoes or diamonds you say "I think it is a good thing that you do it and how you do it, make more of them".
4) Good grades and status on paper are no primary goals. The primary goal is to make this earth a better place. However good grades and status make this a lot easier. For example if you develop some tech or solve a problem you get a PhD. This is nice but it is only half the way. You also have to make sure, that it is used to the benefit to those who need it. For example to clean up our supply chain (it is ok to use tech as a slave)
5) Talent is overrated. Good people are good at what they do because of practice (10 000 hours). That it does not feel like pain or work to them one could call talent.

Jun 8 2012:
1- your body, mind and soul all need to be feed equally
2- love everything, but don't get your happiness attached to any of it
3- you are born the moment you realize your passion and start working for it
4- be good to all, at all times, and all phases
5- we are in this world to make it better, not to sit back and watch. it's short, so make the best out of it!

Jun 7 2012:
1. Help other people and live in purpose.
2. Be true to yourself in the best way.
3. Use your intellect wisley.
4.The comfort zone is a dangerous place, step out.
5.be curious of the universe, you will get in a higher awareness.

Jun 8 2012:
1. Charles Darwin - We are animals. We are related to all life on earth. Geological time is vast beyond one's wildest imagination. The ways in which life evolve over this great expanse of time is humbling, beautiful, and extraordinary.
Naturalism - There is beauty in truth!

2. Richard Dawkins - You, being alive right now, are the recipient of ~3.8 billion years of unbroken and successful genetic inheritance. This is a gift, but also a responsibility.

4. Edward O. Wilson - Sociobiology. We behave as we do due to evolutionary traits that conveyed advantage (adaptations), language, hands, large brains, and controlled use of fire among them, and in doing so have so vastly separated ourselves from all the other codependent living organisms on earth. Having advanced, technologically speaking, so rapidly, we have outpaced the corrective forces of evolution and unintentionally set a course of global instability that threatens all life on earth, including ourselves. Life will go on, in the sense that rats, cockroaches, vultures, crows, microorganisms, and fungi are life, but the oceans will forever be stained with plastics bags and bottles, the soil, water, and atmospheric chemistry/composition so dramatically altered that life as we know it will fail to keep pace. Our daily choices matter in how we choose to bequeath the earth to future generations of all macro fauna, so choose wisely friends.

5. Henry David Thoreau - a simple life isn't necessarily a less fulfilling life.

Oh, and my history professor in high school, Craig Schmidt, who taught me to be critical of sources of information: history is usually written by the victors of conflict. Also, Al Gore, who revealed an obvious fact: when my father was born there were 2 billion, and now 7 billion people on earth, this is not business as usual.

"Human history can be viewed as a slowly dawning awareness that we are members of a larger group. Initially our loyalties were to ourselves and our immediate family, next, to bands of wandering hunter-gatherers, then to tribes, small settlements, city-states, nations. We have broadened the circle of those we love. We have now organized what are modestly described as super-powers, which include groups of people from divergent ethnic and cultural backgrounds working in some sense together — surely a humanizing and character building experience. If we are to survive, our loyalties must be broadened further, to include the whole human community, the entire planet Earth. Many of those who run the nations will find this idea unpleasant. They will fear the loss of power. We will hear much about treason and disloyalty. Rich nation-states will have to share their wealth with poor ones."

"A tiny blue dot set in a sunbeam. Here it is. That's where we live. That's home. We humans are one species and this is our world. It is our responsibility to cherish it. Of all the worlds in our solar system, the only one so far as we know, graced by life."

"Consider again that dot. That's here. That's home. That's us. On it everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever was, lived out their lives. The aggregate of our joy and suffering, thousands of confident religions, ideologies, and economic doctrines, every hunter and forager, every hero and coward, every creator and destroyer of civilization, every king and peasant, every young couple in love, every mother and father, hopeful child, inventor and explorer, every teacher of morals, every corrupt politician, every "superstar", every "supreme leader", every saint and sinner in the history of our species lived there - on a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam."

Jun 8 2012:
1. Learning and change is a life long process.
2. Do a variety of things and find the right balance. Anything in excess in harmful
3. Be compassionate and generous, especially with praise and genuine love and respect
4. Never be afraid of failure. Sometimes a major failure is the best thing that can happen to you
5. Learn to let go. Some people will always be unfair to you. Learn to get them out of your life

Jun 7 2012:
1. Faith can move mountains, but only if you exercise it. Faith through wishful thinking accomplishes nothing other than to make you wonder why nothing is happening.
2. Books are an important learning tool. Make sure you review the interior before you buy it.
3. Science is the most productive learning tool we have in today's world. It is not always right, but it is always ready to accept a better answer.
4. If you want to know who's telling the truth, ask a question in which you already know the answer.
5.We only play the cards we are dealt, but we are not the dealer. Learn to play the right cards.

Jun 7 2012:
1. Forgive yourself.
2. Cultures vary, but underneath people are pretty much the same.
3. Different languages express ideas that don't translate well. Learning new languages gives you more tools for understanding the world around you, and the ability to make connections with people who will help you do the same.
4. You grow the most when you step outside your comfort zone.
5. You will eventually grow comfortable no matter where you go and what you do. Don't mistake comfort for happiness. Refer to #4 often.

Jun 24 2012:
MARI TAKESHITA and Debra Smith wanted me to share 5 things that I have learned that completely changed my life. Before I start, I want to thank each and everyone of you for being so kind, amazing human beings. Thank you for taking your time, reflecting, and answering my questions. I am only 16, I do know a lot, but I still haven't experienced a lot. I am still on that journey of figuring out who I am and what I want to do with my life.
1- Love yourself. This is my life motto. I fight everyday to engrave this into my own mind and soul and into others. I believe that it is the most important of all. Love yourself first and everything else falls into line.
2- Don't compare yourself to others. I am firm believer in being yourself and comparing yourself to anyone because all it does, is drive you crazy. Strive for your own happiness, do whatever you can to make your life better. We all blessed in different ways. That realization set me free.
3- Our prime purpose is to help others. Don't live selfishly, this life isn't all about you. Help others the way you can. You don't have to be the richest man on earth to lend a helping hand. Just a simple gesture as a compliment to someone goes a long way.
4- Don't give up on your dreams. Always dream big. It doesn't matter who you are, where you come from or how much money you have in your pockets, if you have a dream, you love and believe in yourself, and you fight every single day to make that dream come true. Then I truly believe that any dream you have can become your reality. DON'T EVER SETTLE FOR ANYTHING LESS THAN YOU DESERVE.
5-Be grateful for what you have. No matter what our situation is we can always find something to be grateful for. This may sound silly, but sometimes, when I'm feeling blue or lonely. I touch my legs, my arms, then I feel my heart beat, and I thank God for those things.
Thank you. I am still learning.

Jun 25 2012:
Fonkou, you sound like a genuinely remarkable young man! I think you have the good stuff figured out much, much earlier in your life than many of us likely did : ) Lots and lots of good wishes to you.

Jun 25 2012:
Fonkou, when I was at your age, I discovered that the number of birthdays which one has doesn't guarantee wisdom. You'll be surprised you're wiser than a lot of 60-yr olds out there. Keep dreaming whilst doing. You'll go far!

Jun 22 2012:
‎1. God doesn't have to be the God I grew up with.
2. It's possible to be grateful for even my darkest moments.
3. Science is not a collection of facts but a way of thinking.
4. The majority of the world is not, in fact, laughing at me.
5. Mathematics is truly the language of the universe.

Jun 21 2012:
1. Be gentle with people's feelings. You never know how you will impact the lives of others.
2. Love is more important than money. Most people learn this after work has destroyed important relationships.
3. People who have touched your life stay with you forever. This is so true.
4. Take care of your body. Eat well, move often, and get enough sleep. Your good health will be an asset during your life
5.Music and art are the glue that helps bond us as people across cultural and language barriers. Without it, life wouldn't have nearly as much meaning

Jun 9 2012:
Not sure that this is the definitive list but these are certainly the most important things that I have learned in the last year or so, especially during my Year of TED (www.kyliedunn.com).

1. Nobody has the answers, we are all stumbling along doing the best we can.
2. Do not be afraid to put yourself out there to make friends and really connect with friends - chances are that they are just as worried as you are about making a fool of themselves.
3. I am not required to be perfect, nobody expects it from me and showing imperfection actually makes me more connected to people in my life.
4. Find people in your life who are willing and able to support you and tell you how wonderful you are. Love those people and make sure that you keep them close, they will change your life and give you strength when you think that you have no more.
5. Everyone is broken in their own way and sometimes they will hurt you because of their brokenness. You cannot control their actions and you are unlikely to be responsible for them, so son't take on their crap and let them ruin your life. You probably have enough of your own brokenness to deal with.

Jun 7 2012:
* Be BOLD in your failures, they are your best steps toward success.
* Don't let other people's fears dictate what you do. You must believe in yourself before anyone else will believe in you.
* Study systems-based thinking, interrelationships are more important than causality
* Learn to appreciate art, even if you can't create it - and to appreciate science, even if you don't pursue it
* Enjoy the time you have with friends and loved ones. Listen to their stories. Ask them questions. It's humbling to hear the trials and triumphs others have experienced - share in their joy, absorb their lessons. Learning from others' experiences will enhance your thinking.

Jun 26 2012:
1) What occupies your thoughts controls your life.
2) We don't see things as THEY are, we see things as WE are.
3) Relationships relationships relationships relationships...
4) Learning never has to stop
5) "Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom." Victor Frankl

1. Present is the most important time but past determines you in some way but it's you who can manage your life by giving the past a meaning that could let you use your present to savoir-être and considering your future as an immediate result of your present. So, what matters it's the meaning you give to your past, your present, your future and the things, people and situations you value.

2. Anxiety is not as bad as it seems to be. Anxiety shows when you feel that something you value is in danger to be lost. And anxiety can give you the strenght you need to defend what's important to you and it's also a master who shows you what you value the most.

3. Smiling can make you feel better. So smile!

4. Reading is one of the most delicious things to do and it's also one of the cheapest, everybody should give it a try.

Jun 9 2012:
That there is something intangible and indescribable that happens when you become a parent that stops people being selfish to some extent.
That to serve others is an awesome way to live.
That failure can be the path to greater success.
That I can really only change me and invite others to do the same.
That a happy life is about relationships, how I treat others, not money, success or things I've done for others.

Jun 9 2012:
1: Sometimes life is hard, sometimes it's easy. Remember that the easy path is not always the right one.
2: Courage is not the absence of fear, it's being afraid but doing what you know is right anyways.
3: Nothing last's forever not even time and space. So don't dwell on things past, and remember that the future is yet unwritten.
4: Always strive to be the most clever person, and if you aren't clever wear glasses while examining things and speak as if you know what you are talking about. Trust me it always works.
5: You are a living thing, not only living but a human. Humans are evil, greedy, envious, selfish, and ignorant. We are also good, courageous, brave, caring, loving, and knowledgeable. The great thing about being human is that we always have a choice. We can only hope that you make the right one.

Jun 8 2012:
1. Being happy is like having good posture. You have to consciously make an effort to maintain it.

2. If you feel uninteresting, become interestED. It is your passions, pursuits, and knowledge that enrich you as a person, and before you know it, you'll be admired for that.

3. If you often feel a lack of contentment, at least be comforted by the fact that it probably means you are ambitious and not satisfied with settling for less.

4. If one views the history of life on Earth on a month-long timescale, humans appear in approximately the last five minutes. The human species is definitely interesting and unique and exciting to think about, but it is well to remember how brief of a role we have played thus far.

5. Sometimes you must go do something significant and out of your comfort zone BY YOURSELF to get out of a lack of confidence rut. Backpack through a foreign country alone, move to a big city, end that stifling relationship, or whatever seems scariest to you. The benefits will manifest themselves in your career, your relationships, your ability to embrace opportunities, and your overall happiness.

I have spent 10 years battling various illnesses (with help and other people's spare body parts!) and I think that's one of the most valuable things that has ever happened to me. I wish people could learn from my experiences but it seems that you only learn the true life exoperiences by nearly losing yours or being very close to someone who does.

My lessons are:

1. be happy, do stuff that makes you happy but also know that you control your state of mind - laugh often
2. be grateful, even when you don't; there is someone who loves you
3. give, you will always get more back
4. love, and allow yourself to be vunerable in doing so, you will be protected but those who deserve your love
5. look after your body; use it, try not to take it for granted and forgive it for it's minor problems, it does an amazing job

but the things that changed my life were:
1. Getting diagnosed - discovering my true inner strength
2. waking up after my kidney transplant - surrounded by family and friends and feeling immediately better than i did before i went into surgery
3. buying my first horse - unconditional love and passion combined
4. getting together with my best friend - i didn't know love could feel this good
5. going to do Camp America - I didn't know that I was any good with kids or other people, I thought I was just a maths head but in truth you can reinvent yourself at any time! Like yourself!

Jun 8 2012:
1. People can change.
2. Failures can lead to successes.
3. Depression can be overcome & doesn't have to end you.
4. You can never truly understand another's perspective until you have experienced what they have.
5. Understanding oneself is an endless process.

Jun 8 2012:
1. First love and respect yourself, others will follow and you will be source of joy for people around you
2. Live each day balancing the three make up of your being body, mind and soul. Take care of your body, nurture your mind and give a rest to your soul when you feel it is due.
3. Expand and increase what has been given to you (although this seems simple, I think it is one of the principles of the universe), don't settle.
4. Don't wait for perfect moment and right time, you have to try to know when is perfect and to feel when is right
5. Pick up your self hundred times, enjoy the process, and move on

Jun 7 2012:
1. Express your ideas widely. Do not be afraid to tell everyone. No one will steal your idea. The people who work on ideas have their own and won't notice yours. But people who can help you will take notice!
2. The universe is releasing ideas into this material world.. not just to you. Move quickly or watch someone else implement the idea.
3. If you see your idea implemented by someone else, give yourself one gold star. Tell yourself, "I thought of that!" and be proud not jealous.
4. Love yourself first. Give yourself a hug. Then you can spead the love!!
5. If you implement your idea, remember it is not YOUR idea! it is the universe expressing itself through you and the others who have joined you to implement it. Give everyone gold stars!! And thank the universe!

Jun 7 2012:
1. challenging what I believed to be my core 'identity'- turns out I'm not who I thought I was!
2. it is OK to feel vulnerable and to express that to others without feeling shame
3. that listening to others is more powerful than trying to solve the world's problems
4. fake it til you make it
5. always choosing in favour of my passions and if i don't know what they are i write down the times when i am smiling the most

Jun 27 2012:
Hi, like 1-4, but disagree with 5. If you have low expectations you cannot be disappointed. But in some cases high expectations can lead to amazing results for example when working with a team on a project.

Jun 27 2012:
Sebastian, I can't answer for Zidni, and again, remember that each list is a personal one and supposed has changed that person's life, but I think what was meant is not to have "low expectations", but "lower ones" which is a difference. Perhaps those that were had were too high at the time and may have been unattainable due to circumstances beyond the person's control, but since they were lowered a bit, they were met and success followed. Does that make sense???

Jun 25 2012:
1) Not to care so much, everything will pass in time.
2) Tell people you love them every time you see them, you never know when you might not see them again.
3) LISTEN when people are talking to you, put down your media devices!
4) Wake up every morning and choose to have a good day.
5) You can't change anyone, only yourself.

Jun 19 2012:
1. I can do anything if I really apply myself to it.
2. There are only 24 hours a day, and only that many days in a life. Which means potential is nice, but it's worth nothing without focus.
3. Watch your mind. The ability to quiet your thoughts is the most important one you can acquire.
4. Listen to your gut feeling, especially when it's very faint.
5. The things i fear most or am procrastinating are the ones I most need to do. Fear (except when talking about real danger of course) is often a sign you need to push yourself to do.

Jun 18 2012:
1. being smart is not enough unless you work hard
2. thinking of something new is worthless unless you do it.
3. there is no ultimate goodness.
4. parents make mistakes too.
5. delaying your duties only make you more uncomfortable.